Zechariah 14:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. | Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. | Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse opens the book's last chapter with a warning to Jerusalem. The day of the LORD is coming, and enemies will split up the city's plunder inside its own walls. The chapter then shows the LORD fighting for the city and ruling as king over all the earth. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9
SpeakingThe LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. In the next verse he says, "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem." Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:2
ToThe words are aimed at Jerusalem ("thee"). They were given to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah overview
Also involvedJerusalem and its people, and the nations who come against it in battle and are then judged. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:12
The verse announces that the day of the LORD is coming. Jerusalem's goods will be taken as spoil and divided up among the enemy in the middle of the city. Verse 2 explains how: the city is taken, houses are rifled, and half the people go into captivity, though the rest are not cut off from the city. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Strong's H7998Strong's H2505A
The scene is Jerusalem. The chapter names the mount of Olives, east of the city, where the LORD's feet will stand. JerusalemZechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:4
The eventsThe events belong to a future "day of the LORD," also called "that day" throughout the chapter. The text does not give a date. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:9
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah then, but chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many assign them to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse warns that the day will begin with Jerusalem plundered. The plunder does not have the last word: the LORD goes out to fight the nations, and later the wealth of the heathen is gathered at Jerusalem instead. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:14
In the whole of ScriptureOther prophets use the same words: "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh" (Isaiah 13:9; compare Malachi 4:1, 5). It is a day of judgment on the proud (Isaiah 2:12). Revelation 16:14 likewise speaks of kings gathered "to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." In Zechariah it ends with "the LORD shall be king over all the earth" (14:9). Isaiah 13:9Malachi 4:1Malachi 4:5Isaiah 2:12Revelation 16:14Zechariah 14:9Zechariah overview
For readersThe day of the LORD is not pictured as easy, even for God's own city. Yet the LORD himself steps in, and the chapter ends with Jerusalem safely inhabited, the horses' bells bearing "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD," and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah made holy to the LORD. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:11Zechariah 14:20Zechariah 14:21
Christians read this differently
The text does not say when or how this day is fulfilled. Some read it as a future battle at Jerusalem at the end of the age, followed by the LORD's visible reign (compare Revelation 16:14 and Acts 2:20). Others read the chapter as picture language for God's judgment and his final victory, or see it partly fulfilled in Jerusalem's later sufferings. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:9Revelation 16:14Acts 2:20
- dayיוֹם
The word can mean a 24-hour day, but also a time or period in general. Here it names "the day of the LORD," which the chapter keeps calling "that day" while describing many events within it. Strong's H3117GZechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:20
- spoilשָׁלָל
The word means prey, booty, or the plunder of war. It shows the verse is about a city taken in battle, as verse 2 describes. Strong's H7998Zechariah 14:2
- dividedחָלַק
The word means to divide, share, or plunder. Here the spoil is shared out in the midst of the city, which fits verse 2's picture of the city taken and its houses rifled. Strong's H2505AZechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:1 opens a picture of the day of the LORD that starts with Jerusalem plundered and ends with the LORD as king over all the earth. It is a warning, but the chapter makes clear that the LORD himself fights for his city. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| there! | הִנֵּ֥ה | hi-NEH | H2009 | beholdהִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if |
| a day | יֽוֹם־ | yom- | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
| [is] coming | בָּ֖א | ba' | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| of Yahweh | לַֽיהוָ֑ה | la-YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| and it will be divided | וְחֻלַּ֥ק | ve-chu-LAK | H2505A | to divideחָלַק (cha.laq) 1) to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to divide, apportion 1a2) to assign, distribute 1a3) to assign, impart 1a4) to share 1a5) to divide up, plunder 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to divide oneself 1b2) to be divided 1b3) to assign, distribute 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to divide, apportion 1c2) to assign, distribute 1c3) to scatter 1d) (Pual) to be divided 1e) (Hiphil) to receive a portion or part 1f) (Hithpael) to divide among themselves |
| plunder your | שְׁלָלֵ֖ךְ | she-la-LEKH | H7998 | spoilשָׁלָל (sha.lal) 1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty 1a) prey 1b) booty, spoil, plunder (of war) 1c) plunder (private) 1d) gain (meaning uncertain) |
| in midst your | בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃ | be-kir-BEKH | H7130G | entrails: amongקֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev) : among/within 1) midst, among, inner part, middle 1a) inward part 1a1) physical sense 1a2) as seat of thought and emotion 1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion 1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons) 1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals) Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.